Water straining apparatus with flow control means



R. E. MILLER May 24, 1966 WATER STRAINING APPARATUS WITH FLOW CONTROL MEANS Filed Dec. 14, 1961 JNVENTOR. EQBERT EOMILLER United States Patent 3,252,576 WATER STRAINING APPARATUS WITH FLOW CONTROL MEANS Robert E. Miller, 524 Elinor Drive, Fullerton, Calif. Filed Dec. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 159,304 6 Claims. (Cl. 216-137) This invention relates to swimming pool apparatus and more specifically to apparatus particularly useful in swimming pool filter systems.

A major object of this invention is to provide improved apparatus for use in skimming large bodies of fluids such as swimming pools.

A further object of this invention is to provide for a swimming filter system, an inlet regulating means which automatically substantially separates the pool from the system when the system is not operating.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swimming pool filter system having inlet means which can automatically compensate for abnormal interruptions of the flow of water into the system.

An important object of this invention is to provide swimming pool filter system wherein debris collected by the system will not wash back out into the swimming pool when the system is not operating.

A still further object of this invention is to provide swimming pool skimming apparatus in which the skimmer is automatically by-passed if it should become plugged or the flow of water to it is interrupted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swimming pool skimmer apparatus which may be easily cleaned and maintained.

A further object of this invention is to provide swimming pool skimming apparatus which may be easily adjusted to vary the rate at which the water is withdrawn from the swimming pool.

Still another object of this invention is to provide economically manufactured apparatus for skimming the surface of swimming pools.

It is still a further object of this invention to provide swimming pool skimming apparatus including a housing wherein the flow of water from the pool into the housing is controlled by the level of the water in the housing.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent in the detailed description below in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a perforated embodiment of the present invention taken along line 1-1 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional top view of the apparatus disclosed in FIGURE 1 taken along line 2-2 in FIG- URE l; and

FIGURE 3 is a plan view disclosing details of a flow plate used in the apparatus to regulate the flow through the apparatus.

Referring now to the drawings, in its preferred embodiment, the present invention comprises a housing sunk in the concrete around the swimming pool, which housing communicates with the swimming pool through an inlet, or passage, duct 11. As illustrated, the inlet duct 11 opens into the housing through pool side wall 12 of the housing and is located at a level relative to the swimming pool so that somewhat less than one half of the inlet duct is below the level of the swimming pool water.

At the bottom of the housing 10 is located an exhaust or removal conduit 13 through which the water is conducted through a filter F by a pump P (each indicated schematically) and thence back to the swimming pool.

One of the major aspects of the present invention is the manner in which the flow of Water into the housing 10 is regulated. Located in sliding relation with side wall 12 of the housing 10 is a buoyant gate, or door, 16 rather 3,252,576 Patented May 24, 1966 ice loosely held by vertical guide members 17 and 18 for vertical sliding movement. The movement of the door is limited on its lower side by a rest 19. A channel member 20, removably secured to the housing 10 by a pair of screws 21 (only one shown), limits the upward movement of the gate 16 by lower side wall 22 being engaged by upper edge 23 of the gate. The gate 16, which extends laterally across the inlet passage 11, may be made of metal or plastic so long as it has sufiicient buoyancy to accomplish its function. The details of the manner in which the gate 16 accomplishes its function will be set forth below. At this time suffice it to say that the water coming in through the inlet 11 passes over the upper edge 23 of the gate 16 into the housing 10 where it is skimmed before passing into conduit 13 to be returned to the swimming pool.

Located slightly above the midpoint of the housing 10 is an inner perlpheral ledge 24 secured to the housing side walls and the guide members 17 and 18. The ledge 24 is made up of a senies of right angle members which form an opening into which is received a skimmer basket 26. The skimmer basket 26 is preferably constructed of plastic molded with holes of approximately one-half inch across, and has an outer peripheral ledge 27 by which the basket is supported by the ledge 24. A handle 28 extends laterally across the upper portion of the basket 26 to facilitate removal of the basket at the time that it is desired to clean the same. With this arrangement the operator need merely reach down into the housing, grasp the handle 28 and lift the basket up out of the housing.

As mentioned previously, one aspect of the present invention is that the apparatus is adapted to receive means by which the rate of flow through the apparatus may be easily varied. In the preferred embodiment this means comprises a flow plate 30 removablylocated, resting on top of the basket 26 and has a pair of holes 31 and 32 therethrough.

The hole 31 is adapted to receive a fitting for a vacuum hose. Therefore, a nut 34 is attached to the lower side of the plate 30 at the hole 31. With this means a vacuum hose fitting 35 (indicated in phantom lines) may be threaded into the nut 34 when it is desired to vacuum the pool.

Adjacent the hole 32 is located a closure 37 rotatably secured to the plate 30 by means of a bolt 38. In FIG- URE 3 the closure 30 is disclosed as being rotated degrees away from the hole 32. However, it can be seen that the closure may be swung to any position desired to vary the effective opening of the hole 32. Thus the flow through the apparatus may be adjusted.

. In addition to adjusting the flow through the skimming apparatus the particular arrangement of flow plate 30 has an additional function. More particularly, the adjustment afforded by the closure 37 operating in conjunction with the hole 32 facilitates the vacuuming operation. After the vacuum hose is forced onto the fitting 35 the closure 37 is normally moved to a position completely closing the hole 32. This gives a maximum vacuuming force on the vacuum hose.

In some cases it is desirable to perform the vacuuming task with the hole 32 not completely closed. For example, if the vacuum hose were smaller or longer than the normal hose, the additional water passing through hole 32 would prevent the pump from being starved. Also after the vacuuming operation is complete the closure 37 may be moved completely out of the way of hole 32, to decrease the suction on the vacuum hose and facilitate removal thereof from the fitting 35.

As mentioned previously the inlet duct, or passage, 11 is located in the side of the swimming pool at an elevation where the normal water level in the swimming pool is somewhat below the midpoint thereof. Sometimes,

through inattention of the pool owner, the pool water level becomes below the level of the inlet 11. Also, sometimes the screen formed by basket '26 becomes completely clogged by materials skimmed. In either case the supply of water passing to the lower portion of the housing would be cut off with undesirable results if an additional supply of water were not provided. More particularly, if the pump P withdrew all the water from the housing 10, the pump would become dry and would require priming before it would operate properly again.

An additional feature of the present skimming apparatus is that it includes meanswhich automatically supplies water to the lower portion of the housing 10 should water cease to pass through the basket 26. To this end a supply conduit 40 opens into the swimming pool at a point substantially below the normal level of the swimming pool water. At its opening 41 the conduit 40 opens through far wall 42 (as seen in FIGURE 1) of the housing 10. The flow of water through the conduit 40 is selectively controlled by means of a buoyant gate, or door, 43 held for slidable movement between a pair of vertical guides 44 and 45. It will be noted in FIG- URE 1 that at the upper end of the guides 44 and 45 are provided a pair of stops 46, held by screws 47 to said guide-s, to limit the upward movement of the gate 43.

The gate 43, preferably made of plastic or metal, is of such size and shape that in its upper position disclosed, it substantially closes off the opening 41. In its lower position the gate 43 does not prevent flow of water through the conduit 40 into the housing '10.

It can be seen that so long as there is an adequate flow of water through the inlet 11 and the basket 26 to keep the lower end of the housing 10 filled, the gate 43 is buoyed upward and closes off the opening 41. Thus the full suction of the pump P through the pipe 13 is directed toward pulling water through the skimmer basket 26. I

If for some reason the flow of water through the basket becomes too small and the water level in the lower portion of the housing 10 will decrease until the gate 43 slides down by force of gravity uncovering opening 41.

This allows water to pass into the housing through the conduit 40 furnishing an adequate supply of water to the pump P.

At the upper end of the housing 10 is removably located a cover 49 which rests on a series of right angle members 50 forming three sides of a peripheral ledge. It will be noted that upper side wall 51 of channel member 20 forms the fourth side of the peripheral edge which supports the cover 49. I

The ease with which the present skimming apparatus may be cleaned is another important aspect of the present invention. It can be seen that by merely removing the cover 49, the flow plate 30, as well as the basket 26, may be simply lifted out of the housing 10. Additionally, by removing screws 21 the channel member 20 may be removed and the gate 16 may be slid up out of the housing 10. Also by simply removing screws 47 and stops 46, the gate 43 may be lifted out of the housing for maintenance purposes.

The operation of the present apparatus is as follows: When the pump P is not operating the level of the water housing 10 is at the level of the water in the pool. This housing water level I have illustrated by a phantom line 53. By buoyancy of the water in the housing 10, the gate '16 would be urged upward against the stop 22 as indicated in phantom lines.

When the pump P is started and draws water out of the housing 10, the water level therein drops whereupon gravity lowers the gate 16. The gate 16 continues to lower with the level of the water in the housing 10 until the flow of Water over the upper edge 23 of the housing is sufficient to replace the flow of water being withdrawn by pump P.

In normal operation, the water within the housing 10 is preferably at a level 54 above the basket 26 and flow plate 30. It may be seen that the water in the housing 10 buoys up the gate 16 and thus the level of the water in the housing determines the elevation of the gate 16. It will also be note-d that the upper edge 23 of the gate 16 is a substantial distance above the operational level 54 of the water in the housing 10. This is an important aspect of the present invention as will be developed.

When the pump P is shut off, the water level in the housing '10 quickly rises to an upper level indicated by phantom line 56 which is .at the normal level of the swimming pool water. This causes the gate 16 to rise until the upper edge 23 engages the side wall 22 as described previously thus separating the water in the housing 10 from the swimming pool water.

When the pump P is turned otf the water level in the housing rises for two reasons. First of all, during operation there is certain velocity to the water in the inlet passage 11. oif, the inertia of the water in the inlet passage 11 causes water to continue flowing over the edge 23 into the housing 10 before the gate 16 is raised. Additionally, as mentioned previously, the gate 16 fits rather loosely in its guides. Therefore, water may pass around the two sides of the gate into the housing 10, as well as, between the wall 12 and the gate 16. This leakage (which could be all augmented by small passages through the gate) is too small to substantially alfeot adversely the skimming operation. However, the leakage is sufii- -cient that within 5 to 10 seconds after the pump P is turned 01f, the water within the housing 10 will rise to the level 53 by which time the gate 16 is buoyed up to its upper position.

The distance that the upper edge 23 of the gate 16 is buoyed up out of the water during normal operation may vary according to the particular installation. However, the gate 16 preferably has sufficient buoyancy to substantially close off the inlet passage 11 when the level of the water in the housing 10 is at the normal level of the pool water. pump P is not operating even though water is splashed by the swimmers into inlet passage 11, any leaves or other.

floating skimmed articles will not float back out into the pool.

If the gate 16 does not have sufiicient buoyancy to close off the inlet passage 11 completely, when the pump P is not operating, large waves made by the swimmer may splash over the gate into the housing 10. However, since the gate presents a vertical wall facing such waves, only the larger waves will splash over. Also, because of the vertical face, the waves will-not force downward the gate 16 as in prior skimming apparatus. This is important because such downward movement would allow even more water to enter the housing 10.

The gate 43, in conjunction with the conduit 40, may supply water if the flow through the basket 26 becomes too small to replace the water withdrawn by the pump P. The details of the operation of this'ernergency supply,

will not be described here since they have been set forth previously;

Although only one embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous changes may be made thereto without departing from the 1' (b) an inlet passage opening into said housing near I the top thereof for conducting water into said houss,

(c) an outlet passage in said housing for conducting water out-of said housing,

Therefore, when the pump P is turned With this arrangement, when the (d) gate means for variably closing said inlet passage,

(c) said gate means including a buoyant gate mounted for unitary, vertical, translatory movement relative to said housing,

(1) said gate being larger than said inlet passage,

(g) said gate being a buoyant plate and having a lower portion directly exposed to the water in said housing, whereby said gate is buoyed up by water in said housing so that the top of said gate will move to the top of said inlet passage when the level of water in said housing is slightly above the bottom of said inlet passage,

(h) vertical guide members secured to said housing,

said gate lower portion slidably engaging said vertical guide members for directing the vertical translatory movement of said gate.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with a removable cover and removable stop means for limiting the upward movement of said gate, whereby said gate may be easily removed from said housing by removing said stop means and lifting said gate out of said housing.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a straining means in said housing and a flow control plate resting on said straining means, said plate having first and second ports therethrough, means for varying the size of one of said ports and means for connecting a vacuum hose to the other of said ports.

4. An apparatus for skimming swimming pool water comprising:

(a) a housing,

(b) an inlet passage opening into said housing near the top thereof conducting water into said housmg,

() an outlet passage in said housing for conducting water out of said housing,

(d) gate means for variably closing said inlet pas- Sage,

(c) said gate means including a buoyant gate mounted for unitary, vertical, translatory movement relative to said housing,

(f) said gate being a buoyant plate and having a lower portion directly exposed to the water in said housing, whereby said gate is buoyed up by water in said housing so that the top of said gate will move to the top of said inlet passage when the level of water in said housing is slightly above the bottom of said inlet passage,

g) vertical guide members secured to said housing, said gate lower portion slidably engaging said vertical guide members for directing the vertical translatory movement of said gate,

(h) means for controlling the flow disposed between said inlet passage and said outlet passage.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said housing is provided with a removable cover and removable stop means for limiting the upward movement of said gate, whereby said gate may be easily removed from said housing by removing said stop means and lifting said gate out of said housing.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 4 including: a straining means in said housing; and said means for controlling flow disposed between the inlet passage and outlet passage includes:

(a) a flow control plate resting on said straining means,

said plate having first and second ports therethrough;

(b) means for varying the size of one of said ports;

(c) and means for connecting a vacuum hose to the other of said ports.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 899,659 9/1908 Craddock et a1. 137-433 1,714,069 5/1929 Becker 137-433 X 2,570,375 10/1951 Pritchard 137-10127 2,809,752 10/ Leslie 210-169 X 2,844,255 7/1958 Cavenah et a1. 210-169 X 2,900,079 8/1959 Pace 210-169 2,914,180 11/1959 Konopka et a1. 210-391 3,067,879 12/1962 Baker .s 210-169 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,012,265 4/1952 France.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT L. MARTIN, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,252,576 May 24, 1966 Robert E. Miller It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, after line 26, insert the following claim:

7. An apparatus for skimming swimming pool water comprising:

(a) a housing,

(b) an inlet passage opening into said housing near the top thereof for conducting water into said housing,

(c) an outlet passage in said housing for conducting water out of said housing,

((1) gate means for variably closing said inlet passage,

(6) said gate means including a buoyant, gate mounted for unitary, vertical, translatory movement relative to said housing,

(f) said gate being larger than said inlet passage,

(g) said gate being a buoyant plate and having a lower portion directly exposed to the water in said housing so that the top of said gate will move to the top of said inlet passage when the level of water in said housing is slightly above the bottom of said inlet passage (h) a second inlet opening near the bottom of said housing,

(i) a second gate slidably disposed across said second inlet opening for closing said second inlet opening in response to the presence of water in said housing.

In the heading to the printed specification, line 6 "6 Claims" should read 7 Claims Signed and sealed this 5th day of May 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER,JR. WILLIAM E SCHUYLER, JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

4. AN APPARATUS FOR SKIMMING SWIMMING POOL WATER COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING, (B) AN INLET PASSAGE OPENING INTO SAID HOUSING NEAR THE TOP THEREOF CONDUCTING WATER INTO SAID HOUSING, (C) AN OUTLET PASSAGE IN SAID HOUSING FOR CONDUCTING WATER OUT OF SAID HOUSING, (D) GATE MEANS FOR VARIABLY CLOSING SAID INLET PASSAGE, (E) SAID GATE MEANS INCLUDING A BUOYANT GATE MOUNTED FOR UNITARY, VERTICAL, TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO SAID HOUSING, (F) SAID GATE BEING A BUOYANT PLATE AND HAVING A LOWER PORTION DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE WATER IN SAID HOUSING, WHEREBY SAID GATE IS BUOYED UP BY WATER IN SAID HOUSING SO THAT THE TOP OF SAID GATE WILL MOVE TO THE TOP OF SAID INLET PASSAGE WHEN THE LEVEL OF WATER IN SAID HOUSING IS SLIGHTLY ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF SAID INLET PASSAGE, (G) VERTICAL GUIDE MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID HOUSING, SAID GATE LOWER PORTION SLIDABLY ENGAGING SAID VERTICAL GUIDE MEMBERS FOR DIRECTING THE VERTICAL TRANSLATORY MOVEMENT OF SAID GATE, (H) MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW DISPOSED BETWEEN SAID INLET PASSAGE AND SAID OUTLET PASSAGE. 